Interview with the Sustainable City Greek Network

1. What are the challenges and opportunities Greek cities face in achieving climate neutrality by 2030?

Greek cities face significant challenges on their path to climate neutrality, including limited financial resources for large-scale sustainable energy projects, fragmented policy frameworks, and the need for greater technical expertise in implementing innovative solutions. However, these challenges also present opportunities: Greek cities can leverage their abundant renewable energy potential, such as solar and wind, and adopt emerging technologies for energy efficiency and urban resilience. Additionally, by fostering collaboration between municipalities, private stakeholders, and international organizations, Greek cities can scale impactful projects and accelerate the transition to climate neutrality.

2. How does the Sustainable City Greek Network support cities in this journey?

The Sustainable City Greek Network plays a vital role in guiding its members toward climate neutrality. It provides technical expertise, facilitates knowledge sharing, and offers capacity-building programs to equip municipalities with the tools needed to design and implement sustainable energy projects. The Network also acts as a bridge, connecting cities with national and European funding opportunities, while advocating for policies that promote sustainability at all levels of governance. By fostering collaboration among its members, the Network empowers cities to adopt best practices, scale impactful initiatives, and achieve their climate goals.

3. How does joining SEFA enhance the Network's capacity to mobilize financing for sustainable energy projects?

 Becoming a member of SEFA enables the Sustainable City Greek Network to tap into an extensive ecosystem of resources, expertise, and opportunities. SEFA’s platform provides tailored financial tools, investor matchmaking, and project aggregation services that help mobilize funding for large-scale sustainable energy projects. Furthermore, SEFA’s capacity-building programs and policy advocacy initiatives empower the Network to strengthen its technical and financial capabilities. By leveraging SEFA’s global reach and innovative approaches, the Sustainable City Greek Network can accelerate the financing and implementation of impactful projects, driving Greek cities closer to climate neutrality by 2030. We are also happy to collaborate jointly with SEFA on the CROSSFIT project, which seeks to transform how energy efficiency projects are handled in the public sector by introducing a one-stop-shop approach. CROSSFIT simplifies procurement complexities, centralizes tender procedures at municipal, regional, and national levels, and actively engages the private financial community. . Furthermore, SEFA will play a pivotal role in scaling the results of CROSSFIT across Europe by leveraging its financial networks and expertise.